Writer Shannon Severson // Photography Courtesy of Phoenix Sister Cities
While Arizona shares only one international border, with Mexico, the state relies on global connections and economic partnerships to compete on the world stage.
The Phoenix Sister Cities program, established in 1972 as part of the City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development initiatives, maintains relationships with 11 cities worldwide. Its Youth Ambassadors program embodies the organization’s mission: to foster “relationships between the people of Phoenix and our Sister Cities around the world to promote friendship, peace and prosperity.”
Mayors of sister cities sign agreements and outline plans to exchange delegations of students, educators, political and business leaders, and representatives of the arts community. Volunteer committees support these efforts. One of the program’s gems is the Education and Youth Ambassador programs, led by Xavier Corella.
“Our education programs help our residents see the world through a different lens,” says Corella, the organization’s youth and education coordinator. “We often hear about negative events worldwide; however, we usually lack one key piece: perspective. That’s where we come in; our education program strives to provide that additional cultural and geographical context to better understand the complex problems on our global stage.”
Exploring Cultures, Expanding Minds
For 45 years, the Youth Ambassador Exchange Program has sent Arizona high school sophomores and juniors on two- to three-week adventures each summer. Upon return, they host their foreign counterparts in Phoenix in July, reciprocating the hospitality.
The program accepts up to 30 participants annually and has amassed 1,100 alumni. While location availability can vary due to regional conflicts, there are 11 participating cities: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Catania, Italy; Chengdu, China; Ennis, Ireland; Grenoble, France; Hermosillo, Mexico; Himeji, Japan; Prague, Czech Republic; Ramat Gan, Israel; Taipei, Taiwan; and Suwon, South Korea.
Corella notes that parents are more hesitant to allow their teens to travel, but participants spend a full semester preparing through meetings, activities, fundraisers and events.
Students apply by late January. Once accepted, the program board assigns cities, announcing placements in a special ceremony. Counterparts are introduced beforehand to foster relationships. Three “academy sessions” provide training from alumni, volunteers, committee members and local professionals on topics ranging from managing culture shock to social media etiquette, diplomacy and cross-cultural communication. Ambassadors must participate in two spring fundraisers to support activities in Phoenix. They also attend committee meetings with representatives from their assigned sister city.
In June, students embark on their adventure, living with their international teenage counterparts and families — a fully immersive experience. Host cities and families create itineraries showcasing local government, culture, food, holidays and popular activities.
When counterparts visit Phoenix for three weeks in July, they enjoy highlights such as a Grand Canyon trip, meeting Phoenix’s mayor and experiencing American holidays and a prom-style celebration.
Students cite various motivations for participating: making international friends, gaining global understanding, experiencing a new culture through a host family’s eyes and seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view a different country from a non-tourist perspective while building leadership skills. It’s a life-changing process, including for Corella.
Born and raised in Phoenix’s first sister city — Hermosillo, Mexico — Corella has lifelong connections to the program.
“My grandfather orchestrated the partnership from the Mexican side,” he recounts. “I’ve always been involved in activities. I became a Youth Ambassador and came to Phoenix as a counterpart from Hermosillo in 2013. This experience changed my views on living in the U.S. I decided to attend college here, liked it so much I completed my MBA here as well, and then received the job offer to become the youth and education coordinator.
“Personally, this job means continuing my grandfather’s legacy and his vision of creating a united society — one that grows together and understands neighbors’ problems, one that helps rather than criticizes, one that helps you grow together.”
Cross-Cultural Classrooms
Corella also oversees the Phoenix Sister Cities Teach Abroad programs, offered in Himeji, Japan, and — recently added — Catania, Italy. About five teachers per year are sent to Japan. It’s a professional experience that opens new doors and brings fresh perspectives for young professionals.
“This experience means something different for each person,” Corella says. “It’s not just for [recent] college graduates; we’ve found that most people are midcareer and need a break or change of pace, so they seize this opportunity.”
Successful applicants must be U.S. citizens residing in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and possess a four-year degree. They receive a contract to teach for a full school year. Fluency in Japanese or Italian is not required, nor is a teaching certificate, though supervisor positions in the Himeji program require certification.
As with Youth Ambassadors, English teachers’ preparation includes participating in Sister City committee meetings and events, receiving instruction on required paperwork, language and customs, and practicing lesson plans.
“Participants come from all walks of life,” Corella says. “This may mean something completely different for every person who starts this program. They all have their reasons; some seek adventure and some seek a new outlook on life.”
Corella shared the experience of a former teacher who asked to remain anonymous. She was nearing retirement as an elementary English teacher in Phoenix. She and her husband had planned to purchase a recreational vehicle to tour Mexico, but he died months before her retirement.
“It was a rough couple of months,” she recalled. “How do you go on without the person who was beside you for most of your life? I fell into a depressing routine of staying home and not living. About a year after my husband’s passing, a friend told me about this program, and I signed up. To my surprise, I got the position, and before I knew it, I was on a plane to Japan. I had a great year abroad. I did what I loved: teaching. I found new meaning in my life.”
The experience prompted her to come out of retirement; she now teaches English to seniors new to the U.S. She still plans to buy that RV and travel throughout Mexico, hoping to find someone to teach her Spanish.
A World of Stories
Stateside, programs allow Phoenicians to get involved without a passport. The Phoenix Sister Cities International Book Club, characterized as “a voyage through countries and cultures,” is free and open to the public with an RSVP.
A new book is featured every other month, attracting primarily adult readers. Hosting rotates among the organization’s 12 committees, representing the 11 sister cities and the Disabilities Awareness Committee.
The Disabilities Awareness Committee, established by Phoenix Sister Cities as the first of its kind in the country, is an award-winning program recognized for excellence. It includes the International Competition for Artists with Disabilities and the International Competition for Writers with Disabilities. Other initiatives include adaptive recreation exchanges, training workshops, online educational resources about disabilities, mobility and accessibility, and a holiday teddy bear and book event benefiting children with special needs and pediatric cancer patients.
“We have many activities for artists of all ages,” Corella says. “We have writing competitions, art and drawing competitions, etc. Each happens once a year. We encourage people to stay informed about these programs by joining the committee or signing up for our newsletter. If I can say something about our organization, it’s that we will find a way to make sure we find you a spot to join us.”
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